SHAH ALAM, Nov 11 – Documents declassified by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat
(PR) government today revealed that a former Umno executive councillor’s
company owned the Bandar Alam Perdana project that was eventually
abandoned, leaving thousands of house buyers facing massive debts.

The documents, which were classified by the former Barisan Nasional (BN)
government under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), also revealed details of
how the land’s original agriculture settlers were persuaded to sign over
their ownership in return for new homes and cash they never received.

Construction on homes in Bandar Alam Perdana started in 2000 and was
supposed to have been completed in 2003, but was finally declared an
abandoned project in 2006 by the federal government.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said today that with the
declassification, he hoped the house buyers and settlers could now seek
proper legal recourse to recover their money.

According to the declassified documents, the state government in 1973,
under the administration of then Mentri Besar Datuk Hormat Rafei, had
embarked on a Green Revolution Plan, to uplift the economic plight of
those living in poverty by allocating land for agriculture to settlers.

As part of the scheme, 383 settlers were given 1.2 hectares (three acres)
for an oil palm plantation in Bukit Cherakah.

The status of the land was subsequently changed and Ladang Bukit Cherakah
Nominees Sdn Bhd, which was controlled by former Umno exco Miskun Sutero
(who has since passed away), took over ownership to develop Bandar Alam
Perdana.

A total of 383 settlers were promised RM360,000 each, half in cash and
half in the form of a house worth RM180,000.

“The settlers have not only lost their land but never received any money
or the homes they were promised,” said Khalid today.

A total of 3,436 buyers who purchased homes in Bandar Alam Perdana are
also in the lurch because they are servicing loans for non-existent
houses.

Khalid said the state government understood the plight of both the
settlers and home owners, some of whom have been appealing for assistance.

He said a full disclosure behind the abandoned projects will allow the
victims an opportunity to finally get justice.

The declassified documents, which include the names of politicians, civil
servants, victims and other personalities will be available on the state
government website tomorrow.

Hard copies will also be available at the state secretariat and District
Offices.